If you're a dedicated resort skier who demands high performance no matter the snow conditions, these are the tools you're looking for. These are versatile skis that can take on groomers, bumps, and crud. Just like Fleetwood Mac, they want to be with you everywhere.

GEAR OF THE YEAR and BEST IN TEST: Fischer RC One 86 GT

Fischer's RC One 86 GT is the best new frontside ski of 2020.

Photo courtesy of Fischer

The resort-specific daily-driver category is seeing a huge amount of innovation for the 2019-2020 season from a number of ski companies, and this brand-new ski from Fischer is at the top of the class. The Austrian-built RC One 86 GT integrates BAFATEX—a high-tensile, lightweight scrim used primarily in sails—in the tip and tail to reduce swing weight and increase edge-to-edge quickness. With two sheets of Titanal sandwiching a wood core to increase torsional rigidity and damp vibrations at high speeds, the RC One 86 GT earned the highest category scores for quickness, stability at speed, and balance of skills. Add in three different turn radii built into the noticeably unique sidecut, and the latest resort tool from Fischer goes down smoother than a pint of coffee stout on nitro. Testers were enamored with the ski’s capabilities in Taos, quipping that strong intermediate through expert level skiers will be enthralled by its obedient performance on lift-served terrain all season long. According to tester Michael Rogan: “Smooth and forgiving in every condition. If your heart is in racing, but your lifestyle is now in cruising, this is your ski.”

BEST VALUE (TIE): Rossignol Experience 88 TI

The 2020 Rossignol Experience 88 TI

Photo courtesy of Rossignol

Rossignol continues to dial in its “Line Control Technology,” which is a vertical laminate of metal placed directly in the center of the ski’s wood core. Combined with its next-level damping from the translucent Air Tip with VAS, the Experience 88 TI blew testers away with its smoothness on edge throughout each turn on all sorts of terrain. Hence, it was awarded top marks for overall impression. Caven: “Great hard snow performance ski with nimbleness to ski bumps and crud without thinking.”

BEST VALUE (TIE): Nordica Enforcer 88

The new Nordica Enforcer 88

Photo courtesy of Nordica

This new, narrow addition to Nordica’s hard-charging Enforcer line still maintains the same pedigree of no-nonsense skis designed to make any descent as fun as possible. With two sheets of Titanal and carbon, this ski made testers feel most rewarded when their technique was on point for hardpack conditions. But they still loved the Enforcer 88’s liveliness in the bumps and beyond. Gleason: “It will openly perform any turn shape with quiet smoothness and dynamic responsiveness.”

Blizzard Brahma 88

The 2020 Blizzard Brahma 88

Photo courtesy of Blizzard

The Brahma has gained a cult-like following for being a lot of ski wrapped in a narrow profile, and the stronger testers have always loved it for that reason. Built with two sheets of metal sandwiching a poplar-beech wood core, the Brahma maintains liveliness thanks to a bi-directional carbon insert in the shovel and tail. Veteran testers especially loved the intuitive and balanced feel the Brahma is known for. Schiller: “It has the right feel, response, snap, hold, and weight for effortless all-day mountain smashing.”

Salomon S/Force Bold

The new Salomon S/Force Bold for 2020.

Photo courtesy of Salomon

Salomon’s new S/Force Bold might have race-level roots but it features a wide platform that allows high performance carving both on groomed terrain and off. Testers praised the S/Force Bold’s infallible torsional rigidity and its ability to master a variety of turn shapes, hitting a bullseye for intermediate and advanced skiers ready for a shot of confidence to take their skiing to the next level. Dyer: “Has the appearance of a race ski with the soul of an all-mountain board. This ski impressed me in every turn.”

Liberty Evolv90

The new 2020 Liberty Evolv90

Photo courtesy of Liberty

Liberty’s new Evolv family seeks to fill the space between the well-loved Origin freeride line and the forgiving-yet-chargeable VMT carving line. Vertically oriented alloy struts between a bamboo and poplar wood core provide complete control when arcing on groomers. The ski also features two tip-to-tail 10mm carbon stringers to provide energy in the crud. Testers praised the Evolv90’s approachability thanks to a generous flex. Kray: “Lots of power and precision here, but easy to access.”

Liberty Evolv90 Factsheet

Stöckli Stormrider 88

The Stöckli Stormrider 88 men's frontside ski.

Photo courtesy of Stöckli

There is a lot of ski packed into the Stormrider 88. Featuring two sheets of Titanal sandwiching a light wood core that uses balsa and fuma, the ski is perfected by a smooth shovel rocker and durable-yet-damping polywall sidewalls. There wasn’t a skier at Taos who could overpower this ski. The test crew agreed that the Stormrider 88 was strongest on hardpack, but could be finessed everywhere else, too. Sommers: “Handled everything I threw at it with ease. Great all-around ski.”

Stöckli Stormrider 88 Factsheet

Elan Wingman 86Cti

The 2020 Elan Wingwman 86Cti.

Photo courtesy of Elan

The new Wingman line bridges the gap between Elan’s piste-specific Amphibio line and the hard-charging Ripstick family. The 86CTi is packed with tech, including specially cut Titanal sheets that increase power transfer to the inside edge, and carbon rods integrated to provide energy throughout the turn. Testers marked the Wingman 86CTi as the best of the bunch on crud. Larsen: “Amazing tool for the skier who will sometimes ski off-trail but doesn’t want to sacrifice on-trail performance.”

Elan Wingman 86Cti Factsheet

Head SuperShape i.Titan

The 2020 Head SuperShape i.Titan.

Photo courtesy of Head

With the skinniest waist and tightest turn radius in this category, it’s no surprise that the Supershape i.Titan was tied for tester’s top pick for quickness and maneuverability. Featuring the same tech that Head puts in its carving skis, including Graphene positioned underfoot and the longitudinal flex-enhancing KERS chip embedded in the ski, the i.Titan has a massive sweet spot for intermediates, experts, and everyone in between. Sexauer: “Effortless initiation and confident edge hold throughout the turn.”

Armada Invictus 89Ti

The 2020 Armada Invictus 89Ti.

Photo courtesy of Armada

The directional Invictus 89Ti stayed true to Armada’s freestyle roots with top marks in playfulness, but testers found the ski could also arc turns on edge with the best of them. With a poplar core, Titanal, carbon fiber stringers, and a damping Innegra mesh laminate, the Invictus 89Ti is an all-around frontside tool that lets skiers get down the mountain with a smile. Schiller: “Playful aspects are apparent and appreciated, but the real clincher was stability on edge. Benchmark ski for the category.”

Völkl Kendo 88

The redesigned 2020 Völkl Kendo 88.

Photo courtesy of Völkl

Taking notes from the wider Mantra M5, Völkl added the forked Titanal frame construction to the beloved Kendo this year, upping the ante for playfulness and energy in and out of turns at speed. But what really makes the redesigned Kendo unique is its 3D radius sidecut, a modified shape that allows for a shorter turn radius at slower speeds, and a larger radius that stretches from tip-to-tail as speed increases. Testers found it to be a very capable ski with dependable German engineering. Caven: “Best Kendo yet, viva la 3D!”

Völkl Kendo 88 Factsheet

K2 Mindbender 90TI

The all-new K2 Mindbender 90TI

Photo courtesy of K2

The Mindbender 90Ti stood out for its ability to get intermediate skiers to the next level but still please advanced skiers with its tenacious edging capabilities. The torsional rigidity provided by two layers of metal means that it can hold its own through choppy snow and open up on the ’roy. Testers appreciated how little effort the ski required to perform as the day stretched on under the New Mexico sun. Gleason: “Solid-feeling ski that combines authority in powering through snow with a strong edge grip.”

Stöckli Laser AR

The all-new Stöckli Laser AR.

Photo courtesy of Stöckli

The newest addition to the Laser family, the AR struck testers as a frontside carver that could handle bumps and crud, but definitely preferred groomed terrain. Stöckli’s Torsion Racing Technology, or TRT, is longitudinal notches in the tip and tail of the Titanal layers and an adaptive contact length that allows the ski to ease in and out of turns. Don’t be fooled, though, this ski demands good technique. Casey: “Fun high-performance ski with enough width you can take it off-piste, but don’t get backseat on it.”

Stöckli Laser AR Factsheet

Dynastar Speed Zone 4x4 82 Pro

The 2020 Dynastar Speed Zone 4x4 82 Pro.

Photo courtesy of Dynastar

Testers described this frontside carver from Dynastar as cruisy and always at ease on groomed terrain. With a hybrid core that uses a paulownia and beech blend, damping PU rails that run longitudinally, Powerdrive Multi-Layered sidewalls, and a 3D-shaped rockered tip that smooths the ski’s overall flex, this ski was at home at a moderate speed all day long. Schiller: “Flex was great, no surprises, easy to grab bumps and stashes on the way down. I have a sweet spot for the call back to ‘4x4’ days, too.”

Faction Dictator 1.0

The 2020 Faction Dictator 1.0.

Photo courtesy of Faction

Faction’s freeride-oriented Dictator line is directional, monochromatic, and a boatload of fun for freestyle oriented skiers. The narrowest of the family, the Dictator 1.0 was the testers’ favorite from the brand this year, garnering high marks in playfulness and quickness in the tight trees of Taos. But the 1.0 really shined brightest in the moguls, thanks to a forgiving shovel and a snappy paulownia and poplar wood core. Holmquist: “Lively and fast! Has a nice flex and well rounded ‘go-anywhere’ capabilities.”